Calla

"About Aelor—"

"If you're here to convince me to withdraw my judgment, dear sister," said Aenys, a hand massaging his forehead, "I understand how you feel. But I can't."

Calla had found her brother staring emptily at the wall when she stepped into his solar. He forced a smile when he saw her, but it faded immediately when she brought the subject up. It was not something he was happy to discuss… then again, was there anything he would be happy to discuss at this point?

"Could you not delay the execution for a while longer?" Calla still tried, "Giving him a week with his family, then ripping it all away… it's cruel, Aenys."

"Will you prefer me to cut his head off now?" Aenys sighed, his voice dripping with annoyance.

"Well, no, but—"

"The longer we leave him alive, the more likely that someone will attempt a jailbreak." Putting down his hand, Aenys stared straight at her, his eyes bloodshot. "I know that we— House Blackfyre— are at fault here. Rightfully, the crown should be his and he was justified in rebelling…" his face briefly twisted. Calla saw something sharp and painful there.

"Don't say that," Calla said even though Aenys was right, "He's wrong in rebelling. He swore a vow. I just… feel sorry for him. He's still a boy."

"He's older than our brothers when they died on the Redgrass Field." As Calla frowned, Aenys cringed, "I don't mean I'm fine with killing him, he's barely a man. I don't want to have the blood of yet another innocent man weigh on my conscience. Seven knows that I have enough of them on my mind." His hand went back to his forehead. Calla bit her lips.

If the dead haunted Calla, it must have haunted Aenys more. Countless men died before and during his reign, to keep him on a throne that did not originally belong to him.

But a fair share of death was not on Aenys' order. He had his failings as king, but he was no tyrant. It was Calla who had killed the most.

"You didn't mean for any of this to happen, brother," Calla said, "The blood is on my hands. I—"

"No, you don't understand." Aenys shook his head, gritting his teeth. "This burden is mine alone. You have nothing to do with it." Wincing, he added, "Sorry, but I want to be alone."

"Aenys…" It's not your fault— but if anyone told Calla the same words, she would dismiss them as well. The pain in her chest was real. She sighed, "Please send for the grand maester if you need him." This constant headache Aenys had could not be left untreated.

"Stop nagging me. I'm no child," Aenys waved her away, refusing to look at her. Casting one last concerned glance towards him, Calla left the room with a heavy heart.

Without thinking, her legs brought her up the Tower of the Hand.

Is this really all I can do? Calla asked herself repeatedly.

What Aenys and Aegor said was true. The crown could not help Aelor more than the current arrangement. What remorse they held for the Targaryens… could not be shown in public.

Calla failed to save anyone in the death march. Was it foolish for her to put her effort into saving one boy? She was a failure unworthy of Crystal. Whatever the sword saw in her, she could not unleash its full potential as Bloodraven wanted. If only she were not a murderer. If only she could save one person, perhaps she would be able to save more as well…

"You look like you need help, sister," Daena said. When Calla turned around, she saw Daena smirking, lifting her chin smugly. In the wink of her eye, there was something soft and comforting. "Fear not, my lady, Daena Blackfyre is here to your rescue."

Slowly, Calla's lips curled up. Daena was heavily pregnant, so her pose looked ridiculous. Yet the way she carried herself was so… Daena. The girl who was once the proudest, loudest child among the siblings.

Back when their family was still whole, this was Daena Blackfyre. The naughty, confident sister to Calla's quiet and reverse. Just like her namesake, your grandmother, Calla's father had once said. No matter how deep she falls, she will always climb back up.

Father was right. Daena had risen above the pain she was once in and came out stronger. She would not be defeated by life. Calla could share her troubles with her, she would help.

And Daena did. "I was just thinking about it. We have made the Targaryens pay back the lives they owed us, and now it's us that owe them. Aelor Targaryen should live if only to break the cycle."

Calla nodded. Daena's words resonated with her. "Yes, the cycle of revenge must end. But… how? Aenys has made his decision, and we can't change his mind."

"He will have to change his mind if the prisoner happens to disappear," Daena whispered.

Calla stared at Daena unbelievably. Daena stared back, nodding. There was no jest in her gaze. "You can do it, can't you?" she asked.

"I can," Calla answered, repressing the shock in her heart. Yes, whoever Aenys placed to guard Aelor would be no threat to her and Crystal. Calla could bring Aelor out of the Red Keep right now and nobody could stop her. But this did not change the fact that… "This is treason, Daena. I can't directly defy Aenys' order."

Not just before the war of life and death. Not when the world needs me.

Even if I don't know how I can actually be of use.

Seeing her troubled expression, Daena smiled softly. "I'm not saying you should barge into Aelor's quarters and take him away right now," she explained, "I have a plan. Give me a few days to arrange for it, and we can transport him to a safe, secret place— no one will know about this. Aenys will yield and change his order when he has no prisoner to execute."

Calla bit her lips. "Aenys will get mad." If it was the Aenys of a few years ago, Calla would not be worried. But it was King Aenys they were facing, and the King would not take this lightly. He was a half-broken man… Calla would not want to hurt him further.

"He might." Daena's expression darkened when Aenys was brought up. She must know how broken he was. "But… you have talked to Aenys, right? What did he say about Aelor again?"

Calla's eyes widened. "He said… he doesn't want to kill Aelor as well. He thinks that Aelor is innocent."

"So he did. He wants to spare Aelor— he just needs a compelling reason to change his judgment." Daena smiled devilishly, "We're relieving him from a wrong decision."

Calla thought it over. If she could break Aelor out discreetly, Aenys would be forced to publically spare Aelor. Hiding the boy from public sight, they would not know that he was not in the Red Keep. Eventually, the people closest to him might learn, but they would keep it a secret to keep Aelor safe. Aenys would not be mad, because he wanted to spare Aelor in the first place…

Aegor… only wanted to maintain House Blackfyre's rule. But when Aelor was gone, he would agree to spare him, if only out of necessity.

Yes, it could work.

"Tell me when you're ready," Calla said, exchanging a smile with her sister.

Calla stood outside the hallway leading to Aelor's chambers, melting in the darkness. She wore black, her face covered… yet in heart, Calla doubted this use of a thief's clothing. She had, after all, a child's body. It would not be hard to figure out who she was once she was sighted.

And there were a lot of people to see her. Calla had obtained a list of men who guarded Aelor's chamber at night: four men in the hallway and front of the door, led by a kingsguard. Two more men were inside the chambers, and two were stationed outside the window. Half of them were goldcloaks and another half were Calla's Crystal Guards. So that they can't all be brought, Calla knew.

Tomorrow morning was the execution. Aenys must be paranoid about Aelor escaping to place so many guards here, Calla thought darkly. This did not speak well for Daena's plan.

Defeating those men would be child's play, but doing so without exposing her identity was a different matter. Even if they did not recognise her in this rag at first, it would change the moment she took Crystal out.

The safest choice would be leaving no witnesses… but the mere thought of killing those men made Calla shiver. She would not kill anyone innocent, not anymore.

That was why she would choose another way. Closing her eyes, she adjusted her mind and dimmed the light inside her. Only in the depth of the abyss, darkest of the night…

…Would Crystal shine the brightest.

Light showered the hallway. Suddenly blinded, the guardsmen screamed and the lone kingsguard commanded them to stay calm— but that lasted no more than a second, for Crystal made short work of them. Hearing the screams, the two men inside the chambers rushed out. Hiding behind the door, Calla once again used Light.

The two men fell as well. One of them had the foresight to drag Aelor with him, no doubt wanting to use the boy as his shield. Too bad this could not work when everyone inside the room was blinded.

Including Aelor. "What's… what's happening?" he asked, his head turning rapidly, "Who did this? Why? How?"

He was waving his arms around widely, trying to hit something. Calla held his arm and whispered in his ears, "It's Calla Blackfyre. I'm here to break you out."

Aelor's movement halted. "But… why?" This is too good to be true, Calla could see him mouthing. "And my eyes…"

"Your eyes will recover soon. Crystal didn't permanently blind you." Calla looked around the room. She did not hit anywhere fatal, leaving these men to be discovered when another guardsman came by should be fine… but she could not handle the guards outside the window the same way. Using Light outside could affect many people, and attract unwanted attention.

"Even so… why?" Aelor was still asking, touching his eyes gingerly, but Calla did not pay him much attention. They would have to…

They had to leave the way she came in. "Wait a moment, Aelor." Calla kneeled and removed a goldcloak's helmet and armour. There was a bit of blood, but it should be barely visible in the dark. When Calla saw Aelor blinking, his eyes regaining focus, she gave them to him. "Put it on. Ideally, no one should see you, but just in case."

Aelor followed her instructions, yet he was still frowning. "Why are you helping me, Blackfyre? This… this benefits no one."

"It benefits you, does it not? Your mother and sisters?" Calla sighed, "You and Aegon saved me once in the North, pulling me back when the monster would have killed me. I want to return the favour."

But this seemed to have confused Aelor more. "Just for this? You would betray your house, betray your king just to return one favour? A favour that… I owed you at first?"

This stopped Calla. "What? You don't…"

"I killed all the men you and Bittersteel brought to the Wall. If not for you, Aemon and Aegon would have die in the cell I locked them in, and I would be known as a kinslayer… if I didn't die myself," Aelor sighed, "You don't owe me more than I owe you, Blackfyre. You delayed the monster's march to let us escape, and I wouldn't live to this day if you weren't there."

"Most of the people died in the march. I forced them to abandon their home, only to die to the monster," Calla said. She could not fathom Aelor's words. Why was he arguing in her favour, when he had every reason to hate her? His father died because she sent him to the Night's Watch. Many of his kin died at Calla's hands, directly or indirectly. Even if she was saving him now, he should not be… saying good things about her…

"Most people died. But not all. Those who live… like me… should be thankful." Aelor pursed his lips and shook his head, "I won't refuse your offer to help me escape. But Westeros needs you and your sword, and it'll be pointless for me to live only a few more months just to die to the monster. Will you be able to keep your position in court afterwards?"

"I tried to keep my identity hidden. No one should find out that it's me who broke you out," Calla replied. Extending a hand, she said, "Please, take my hand and leave this place. You will be transported to somewhere secure, where you need to await the day you can meet your family again…" Calla bit her lips, "But I will try my best to make it come sooner. Thank you for your words."

Aelor might not know the strength his words had given her, or the weight that was in her 'thank you', but when he nodded solemnly and took her hand she felt that an understanding was reached. "Please save this world," he said, "So that day might come. I want to live, but I want Mother, Aelora and Daenora to live even more."

Calla waited anxiously at Red Keep's courtyard. It was a mercy that Aelor's execution was private instead of in public: Aenys had intended to keep it a small affair, with only a few lords on the small council and the Targaryens stood to witness Aelor's death. This should help when he called off the execution…

…If he was to call it off.

Daena was standing beside Calla, her husband suspiciously missing, but this was not what Calla was worried about right now. Daena said Aenys would call off the execution, but while he must have gotten the news of Aelor's escape, he was not saying anything. Why? The sun would rise soon. He could not let people know that he lost Aelor Targaryen, claimant and arguably rightful king of the Iron Throne. It would shake the very foundation of Aenys' rule.

Yet he stood silently, frowning, his gaze focused on somewhere far away. He did not look worried.

Daena… did not look worried, either. Crossing her arms, she glanced forward, her face expressionless— no, her gaze was sharp, locked on some point far away… the same place… Aenys was looking at?

It was the road leading into the courtyard, Calla realised. They were both waiting for… someone…

The sound of footsteps came before the men themselves. One was fast but uniformed, strong but not thundering. The other was heavy and tired.

It was Aegor and… Aelor.

"Aelor!" Calla blurted out, but thankfully no one heard her as Aelor's twin sister screamed his name at the same time. Calla turned to look at Daena, who pressed a hand on her mouth, and her eyes widened.

No, this was not a part of Daena's plan.

"The prisoner tried to escape, but I have caught him near the harbour," Aegor said, pushing Aelor's back so he fell to the ground in front of Aenys, "Your Grace, please deliver your judgment to the twice traitor."

Calla's blood ran cold. She told Aelor to go to the harbour, where a ship would be waiting for him… because that was what Daena told her…

Aenys looked down at Aelor, shaking his head. "It was a foolish thing to do, Aelor Waters, to spit on the mercy you were given again. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Aegor's ship was indeed estimated to arrive today. But I didn't know that he would arrive before sunrise…

Aelor's gaze was not on Aenys, but on his twin. He smiled softly and made a gesture. Aelora stopped screaming or trying to rush to Aelor's side. She stared at him, shivering, her sister and mother wept silently beside her. Everyone could tell what Aelor meant… it's fine, he said wordlessly.

Yet Daena had been glancing at the road. She was expecting someone to come… but does that mean…

"Your Grace." Aelor lifted his head to look straight at Aenys, "It's true, I attacked the good guardsmen to buy myself a few more hours. But I never thought I would be able to escape the death I deserve. I only wish… I only wish I could talk to Aelora once more, without men staring at our backs. She was my better half, and some words should remain between us, not for others' ears."

Did Daena know about Aegor arriving? Did she expect him to let Aelor go?

"You should have told us," Aenys shook his head again, "I could have granted you this boon. It's too late now. However… I won't deny a man his last words, even if not in private as you wished." Aenys tilted his head towards Aelora, "Go on, say what you want. Make it fast."

"My thanks, Your Grace." Aelor bowed, then walked towards Aelora. Calla did not hear the exchange, for her head was a mess, and she wanted to give Aelor the privacy he claimed to desire. Instead, she looked at Daena, who glared at Aegor…

Yet Aegor's gaze was on Calla. The moment Calla realised that, she walked towards him. She could not read his expression— how much of Daena's plan did he know? But when she stood by his side and he squeezed her hand, he murmured into her ears, "I'm sorry, Calla."

Then she understood.

He… knew all along. All of Daena's plans, Calla's treasonous action.

He would not allow them to threaten Aenys' rule, so he brought Aelor back.

But then why did he not stop her before she broke Aelor out? Why give them false hope?

Calla did not know. All she knew was that… she could not save Aelor.

"It's time," Aenys said, and Aelor left Aelora obediently. Tears filled the twin's face, just as it was on every Targaryens' face. But it was not only them. Calla felt hot tears spilling out of her eyes.

She could not… she could not save…

"I, Aenys of House Blackfyre, the Second of My Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm, now sentence you to die," Aenys announced.

Seconds later, the executioner's blade fell upon Aelor's neck.